The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-07-15
FOUND IN A WESTERN MINE
Williams, the Fugitive Grocer, Capt
ured in Colorado by Detective Hobbs.
He Will Be Brought Back to indianapolis
with His Brother for Trial on the
Charges of Arson and Embezzlement.

| Charges of Arson and Embezzlement.
Deputy Prosecutor Frank Wright received
| the following telegram yesterday morning.
dated at Silverton. Colorado:
| ARRESTED NJ. NJ. Williams this morning five
miles from Auimas Forks in mines Was known
| by the name of Thomas Hawley
ROBERT HOBBS
| The telegram is the sequel to some splendid
detective work that will bring to trial the Young
| man charged with carrying on wholesale
| robbery in Indianapolis. The telegram does
not so state, but other sources furnish the infor
nation that john n Williams, the brother of
| III. NJ, who was also hiding in the mining terri
tory. is under arrest. too.
| It was on the night of May 1 that NJ. NJ
| Williams's large retail grocery store. on West
| Washington street. was discovered to be on fire.
| He had been in business there about five months,
and had built up . remarkable trade by selling
| goods cheaper than other dealers in the
| city. His brother, John H.. in the
| store with him as assistant manager They
| both came to the city from farm in Hancock
county less than two years ago. and were appar-
| emily straightforward. energetic. shrewd bust
ness men. They advertised their low prices
extensively, and SO great was their custom that
QOZ6u wagons
goods to regular customers. In few months
their prices became the wonder of all they city.
Their rushing business inspired the confidence
of wholesale house and they had no diff
Guilty in buying goods long time. These
goods. the later developments show, were
sold invariably below cost. For four months the
young men bought on credit and sold for cash.
But few bills had come in. and they were
promptly paid in oder to keep down suspicion.
Those who know say that the firm took in on
average $500 per day. None OF this money
was put in bank but was secreted somewhere
In the latter part of April the bills of the
three previous months began to fall due. And
there were few Wholesale houses in indianapolis
and neighboring cities that did rot have some to
present. Saturday was the last day of April
and on that Gay the firm, according to the con-
identia. clerks, took in over 5000 in cash. That
night. at o'clock. fire broke out in the store,
and the entire stock was damaged. more or less.
When the fire department reached the burnln g
store. neither of the proprietors were aroun O.
The doors were found securely barred. and it
was with great difficulty that they got into the
building. Before the fire was extineuished Mr.
Williams came MP in a carriage. Inc Sunday
morning following ne left a 2 note at
agents, calling their attention to his loss and
asking for an immediate adjustment. The stock
was insured for 81, $780, divided among the fol-
lowing companies: Liverpool. Royal, Spring.
field, OF Massachusetts. London and Lancaster.
The anxiety of Williams to have the
of all the Companies. and after the damage
appraised at ST. 500 they all withheld payment
except the Springfield, which paid him $l25.
When Williams the companies were hesitat-
Ing about paying him, his actions became all the
more suspicious On May he left the city, and
his whereabouts after that were unknown to all
except his relatives. The insurance companies
were then sure that he had burned his store for
the purpose of robbing his creditors and getting
= the insurance money, and they LAID the matter
before the Western Association of Fire Under
Immediately OrQer6Q
the arrest of both M. M. and John II. Williams.
and offered reward of 81, 900 for the capture and
conviction of the two.
The case was put into the hands of Hobbs g.
Lloyd, composed of Robert Hobbs. the we'll
known detective. who was formerly in the govern
ment secret service, and Frank Lloyd. of Mar
tlnsvile. Within four days the detectives had
accumulated evidence enough to warrant the
arrest of the men. They found two men who
were near when the building was set on fire, and
when the trial is called they will be produced.
According to their statement both NJ and
kndled Al o'clock on the night of May 1. NJ
M. went to the cellar of the store and piled all
the brooms in stock near stairway leading
to the upper floor. At IL o'clock when. as they
thought, no one was near. they went out of the
store-room at the Kentucky avenue door The
key placed in the lock on the outside. and
then john said. lis everything right in the eel
lara"
YES" responded his brother.
81 will go down there" said John.
He was gone a few minutes, and reappearing
at the door said. "Lets get away from here
and they turned the key and fed.
After the detectives had obtained their infor-
nation they ascertaned that John still in
the city. but was making ARRANGEMENTS to leave
They supposed that he would go direct to his
brother, and they employed good man to
shadow him. His first move was to remove his
mother to Terre Haute. and then he started to
meet his brother. He first went to Minneapolis,
and from there to Nebraska. The shadower,
who kept after him all the time, learned that NJ.
M. Williams had been in both of these places.
After a weeks stay in Nebraska. John started
for Colorado. Reaching Denver he spent few
weeks there and then went to the southern part
of the State to meet his brother. They met at
Ouray, in Ouray county The shad-
over was as there there ana lmme sa.h
the brothers, and As soon as they located
permanently he would notify him. That was
six weeks ago. From Ouray. the terminus of
the railroad, the two brothers took the stage
for Silverton, the seat of San Joan county.
They remained in that village few days, and
then went out to work in the mines at Animas
same county. After they had settled. the
shadower telegraphed Mr. Hobbs of the fact
started after his men. Mr.. Lloyd who remained
in the city has been in receipt of kilograms from
him daily informing him of the progress he was
making. He reached SlIverton last week ana
was delayed by the fugitives changing their
location little Detective Hobbs will start back
with his prisoners at once, and will reach here
about the middle OF next week. The men will
perhaps be tried for both arson and embezzle-
ment.
The detectives have evidence THAT when the
store burned the Williams brothers had over
$12 900 in cash, all OF which they are supposed
to bave taken with them to the West Since
their departure the courts have been flooded with
garnishment suits for the unpaid insurance
money. The stock of damaged goods was. by
order OF court. sold by Sheriff King at auction,
and brought s. 300. which divided among
mum Der of creditors. The suits filed in the SUI
perior Court alone represent liabilities in excess
of SIS 600, and the total amount of unpaid bills
aggregates nearly $24. 000
PERSONAL AND SOCIETY.